temperamental

adjective

ˌtem-p(ə-)rə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce temperamental (audio)
Definition of temperamentalnext
1
as in moody
frequently influenced by moods and especially bad moods one of those temperamental actresses who can make life difficult for everyone around her

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly stock prices have been pretty temperamental lately, often fluctuating wildly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of temperamental The temperamental Moon in your 11th House of Friends squares passionate Mars in your 8th House of Intimacy and Shared Resources, stirring tension around trust, contribution, and control. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026 Your 11th House of Friendship lights up as the temperamental Moon conjoins ambitious Mars there, so group plans heat up and leadership may naturally come your way. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2026 The guest rooms felt dated, the vintage plumbing was temperamental, and the noisy window air-conditioning units distracted from the historic charm. — Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 11 July 2026 Your 3rd House of Communication is stirred by the temperamental Moon, while the life-giving Sun boosts your 7th House of Partnership, aligning words with steady commitments. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for temperamental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temperamental
  1. moody
  2. volatile
  3. impulsive
  4. unpredictable
  5. unstable
Adjective
  • Sophie, who added some additional shine with a Chopard diamond circle pendant necklace, bent royal beauty protocol with a moody dark brown manicure that served as an unofficial harbinger for fall.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Drop in on weekends, when live music makes the moody space feel especially vibey.
    — Lila Harron Battis, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of moody
Adjective
  • The man had been shot during a volatile time in the city, and the disposal of his body appears to have been planned.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Sandisk showcased its BiCS8 and BiCS10 NAND technologies and highlighted HBF's potential to provide high-capacity, high-performance non-volatile storage, supplementing or replacing HBM.
    — Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of volatile
Adjective
  • The actor starred on The Sopranos as Christopher Moltisanti, the cousin of Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano who often ends up in trouble because of his impulsive ways.
    — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 12 Aug. 2026
  • But as with any James Gray film, there are life-altering consequences on the other side of impulsive decision-making for the sake of the American dream.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of impulsive
Adjective
  • Klayton Adams wants his offense to be creative and complex, physical and unpredictable, to break rules but still feel realistic.
    — Jon Machota, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Later, the Moon opposes unpredictable Uranus, shifting schedules, conversations, or logistics.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of unpredictable
Adjective
  • At the same time, categorical funding can be unstable from year to year due to changing priorities and how much money the state has to appropriate.
    — Jason Burns, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Inside a fusion machine, the plasma can reach temperatures hotter than the Sun’s core while powerful magnetic fields squeeze it into a tiny, unstable space.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of unstable

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temperamental
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Cite this Entry

“Temperamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temperamental. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of temperamental for Spanish Speakers

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